Texas search and rescue team on standby as Hurricane Helene approaches

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Some Texans will be on hand to help as Hurricane Helene is set to make landfall in Florida.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requested help from Texas A&M Task Force 1. After approval from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, crews are headed to Florida.

"Being in place before the storm starts allows us to be close and yet safe to where we are staged, so that we are ready to get to impacted residents as quickly as possible," Christy Bormann with Texas A&M Task Force 1 said.

When disaster strikes the group goes into action and is prepared for many situations.

"We always plan for a bigger impact than predicted so that we are ready for everything," Bormann said.

Bormann and her K-9 named Connor will help with search and rescue efforts.

"Our job is to find and rescue people who have been trapped after any disaster," Bormann said.

Once Connor locates someone in a collapsed structure he barks to notify Bormann that he's found someone.

They've been training together for three years, but this is Connor's first time out of Texas.

"This is Connor's first federal deployment," Bormann said. "He has been certified by FEMA to assist with locating people who are trapped after a disaster."

The entire Texas team in Florida is made up of 80 personnel, including six canines, 17 vehicles, and six rescue boats.

"No matter what the issue is we have the personnel to be able to figure out how to best respond to that to make sure that impacted residents are safe," Bormann said.